For Hillsdale Daily NewsHUDSON — Teachers from Hudson, Adrian, Britton Deerfield and Onsted spoke their concerns Monday about the divisive feelings they believe Hudson Area Schools Board of Education President Rex Murphy’s personal social media posts are causing.

Wearing T-shirts reading "shoulder to shoulder," referring to a post Murphy allegedly wrote saying he would go "nose to nose" instead of "shoulder to shoulder" with the teachers on their contract negotiations, a number of teachers stood up and detailed their educational credentials. They then declared themselves to not be "flunkies" and concluded with "I am the MEA" to applause from the audience.

Murphy wrote the Facebook posts over the past several weeks as tensions rose between the district and the Michigan Education Association, the organization that represents the teachers.

One of Murphy’s posts reinforced his stance that the comments are his own personal expressions of free speech and invited people to speak to him in person about his concerns.

"For those who find my personal rants offensive have the guts to see me," he wrote in the post. "My facebook comments are just that, my own personal comments. I will not be bullied by the m.e.a. or their flunkies."

The staff members at Hudson were given a 6 percent pay reduction last fall as the district emerges from a two-year deficit. More cuts are being discussed as the district lays out its long-term plan for continued recovery. The staff’s contracts and negotiations continue to be the subject of closed school board sessions.

Adrian Public Schools teacher Jeff Condon, whom Murphy referenced in one of his posts, spoke his concerns that the posts about the negotiations process were unfair, as was the post in which he was singled out.

"You said the ‘more they cry, the bigger my smile.’ That is just so mean-spirited," Condon said. "I respect your freedom of speech, but as an elected official, you’re held to a higher standard. I’d be fired for posting comments like you posted on Facebook."

MEA representative Mary Halley also expressed concern over the posts.

"We will not tolerate anyone on this elected board talking to the employees that way," Halley said. "We cannot accept or condone any official publicly bashing employees. Your board policy, 3112, clearly deems this behavior as unethical conduct."

Murphy further posted on his personal Facebook page that people don’t have to read his posts if they don’t like what he has to say. Murphy reiterated on his page that they are his own personal thoughts and were not made as board president.

Murphy did not respond directly to the audience’s concerns. District protocol allows the public to comment during the meeting but the board does not engage in dialogue. After Murphy closed public comment time, many of the teachers left the media center, where the meeting was conducted. He had no further comment after the open portion of the board meeting.

Page 2 of 2 - The school board then entered into closed session for the purpose of negotiations.